Promoting Civic Actions in Elementary Schools
Welcome!
As described in the video at right (below on phones), teachers can use the STEPWISE framework for lessons and activities to help students to gain expertise, confidence & motivation for eventually self-directing research-informed & negotiated action (RiNA) projects to overcome harms of their concern in relationships among science & technology and societies & environments (STSE). Further details and samples of student work are provided below.
We are currently recruiting teachers to collaborate with us in developing & sharing ‘classroom-ready’ teaching & learning resources for elementary school classes based on the STEPWISE framework. If you would like to join us in this, write to: STSE.Actions@gmail.com
Phases of the STEPWISE Pedagogy
Students Reflect
Teacher Teaches
Students Practise
Sample Elementary School Student RiNA Projects
STEPWISE With Students in a Grade 3/4 Class
It has been most common for secondary school teachers of science to use the STEPWISE framework to educate students so they can independently design & carry out effective RiNA projects to help overcome harms in STSE relationships. Some elementary school teachers have had some successes with this, though, when collaborating with members of our action research team. In the video at right, for example, students in a combined grade 3&4 class were able to conduct such projects when the teacher collaborated with a local curriculum coach. A copy of their negotiated lesson plan set is provided here.
STEPWISE in a Grade 6 French Language Learning Class
As shown in the three videos here, students in grade 6 (French Language Learning) in an ‘elite’ private school were able, after reading about hardships endured by Iqbal Masih (also see: here) and his later role as child labour activist, to develop educational videos to enlighten people about issues of child labour regarding common commodities. Students worked in groups of three to conduct secondary (e.g., Internet searches) & primary (e.g., surveys of families’, friends’ & neighbours’ knowledge & attitudes) research regarding child labour linked to particular commodities. Our research suggested these elite students seemed to develop strong feelings of empathy for children of their age who happened to be born into much less advantaged contexts.
Child Labour & Soccer Balls
Child Labour & Coffee Beans
Child Labour & Bananas
STEPWISE-based Elementary School Teacher Resources
We are currently looking for elementary school teachers (and/or others) who would like to collaborate with us to develop & share lessons & student activities that align with STEPWISE pedagogy and are suitable for uses in elementary schools. Some of this work may involve revising our existing Resources, but we encourage new approaches. If this interests you, please contact us at: stse.actions@gmail.com